What Is Naturopathic Medicine? Naturopathic medicine is a unique and comprehensive approach to improving health and treating illness. Focusing on prevention and using natural substances and treatments, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) support and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself. The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to address the cause of illness, rather than simply treat or suppress symptoms. The patient is seen as a whole person and the ND takes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions into account when diagnosing and developing a treatment plan. The primary therapies used by naturopathic doctors are: clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, physical therapies and counseling. What Health Problems Can Be Treated? Virtually all chronic and most acute conditions may benefit from treatment by naturopathic doctors. People of all ages can be helped. The most common health conditions brought to NDs include: CHRONIC ILLNESSES • Allergies & Environmental Ilnesses • Arthritis, Fibromyalgia • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Cystitis, Prostatitis, Impotence • Digestion, Constipation, IBS • Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne • Heart problems • Hypertension, Atheroslerosis ACUTE CONDITIONS • Colds & Flu • Ear & Throat Infections • Headaches • Intestinal Upsets WOMEN’S HEALTH • Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids • Enhancing Health in Pregnancy • Fibrocystic Breast Disease • Infertility • Menstrual, Menopausal, PMS Issues OTHER CONDITIONS WE TREAT • Anxiety, Depression • Attention Deficit Disorder • Autism • Cancer • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Hyperactivity • Insomnia • Mental / Emotional Stress • Sports Injuries • Weight Issues What Treatments Are Used? BASIC THERAPIES Botanical / Herbal Medicine The use of plants for healing predates written human history and to this day, plant are the foundation of modern pharmacology. Plant substances from around the world are used for their healing effects and nutritional value as their chemical compounds perform important biological functions. Clinical Nutrition Lifestyle Counseling NDs help patients to make effective lifestyle choices as environmental, nutritional, physical and emotional factors affect health. ADVANCED THERAPIES IV Therapies Various types of IVs are used at the clinic. The most common is the use of high dose IV Vitamin C for cancer, or low dose IV Vitamin C combos for Crohns / IBD or pre-surgery treatments. Chelation Therapies Encompassing EDTA Chelation to significantly reduce or even reverse heart/circulatory issues and auto-immune diseases by removing toxic heavy metals. GPC Chelation for the removal of fatty plaque in the arteries and other blood vessels and Mercury Chelation to remove toxic levels of mercury acquired from various sources, in a safe and natural way. Prolotherapy Special diets may be recommended, and treatment may include nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other nutraceuticals. Defined as both a “nonsurgical ligament reconstruction” therapy as well as a treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Homeopathic Medicine PRP (Platelet Reduced Plasma) Homeopathic medicine was developed in the 1700s based on the principle of “like cures like”. Minute amounts of natural substances are used to stimulate the body’s self-healing abilities. Physical Medicine This treatment is an attractive alternative to surgery. It has a shorter recovery time and a lower risk of causing permanent damage. It is used for various types of injuries including cartilage and ligament tears. A wide variety of hands-on techniques are used for the spine,joints and soft tissues. Physical treatments used by NDs also include hydrotherapy and the therapeutic use of heat and cold, light, massage, and electrotherapy. Bowen Therapy Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture Based on balancing the flow of Chi (energy) through the body’s meridian pathways, Oriental medicine includes the use of acupuncture and Oriental herbs. NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE ptimum wellness NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL CLINIC LEADER IN OPTIMIZING WELLNESS 356 SADDLEBACK ROAD (27 AVE.) BLUE QUILL SHOPPING CENTRE EDMONTON, AB T6J 4R7 TEL: (780) 439 - 1200 The Bowen Technique is a gentle, yet often life-changing hands-on therapy used to relieve all kinds of pain. A highly effective method to slow and reverse the signs of aging that is safe, painless and drug and toxin free. www.optimumwellnessclinic.ca Dr. A.J. DeNault B.Sc. Pharmacy, ND Dr. A.J. DeNault graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario in 2000 as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine with two clinical excellence awards. He then proceeded to open the Optimum Wellness Naturopathic Medical Clinic in Edmonton. Previous to that in 1984, Dr. DeNault had graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. Pharmacy and had practiced pharmacy in both Alberta and Ontario for over 25 years. Since then he has continued widening his scope of practice and naturopathic knowledge base by taking advanced accreditation courses and by visiting clinics or attending conferences in the USA, Germany, Mexico, and Canada. Dr. DeNault’s advanced training includes: • IV & Oral Chelation Therapy • Intravenous Therapy • High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy • Oxidative Therapies • Biological Mistletoe Therapy • Environmental Medicine Dr. DeNault’s Practice-Focus includes: • Cancer Therapies • Heart, Brain & Circulation Therapies • Heavy Metal Toxicity Testing & Removal • Environmental Toxicity Testing & Removal Dr. DeNault belongs to the following organizations: OncANP Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians, ACAM American College for Advancement in Medicine, IOMA International Oxidative Medicine Association and ISH International Society of Homotoxicology. He is also in good standing with the CNDA College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta, the CAND Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the ACP Alberta College of Pharmacy and the CPA Canadian Pharmacy Association. Dr. Michael Mason-Wood B.Sc., ND Dr. Mason-Wood received his Bachelor of Science (Biology) from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC and then graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2003. His goal is to educate patients on preventative medicine and to treat following the principles of naturopathic medicine. He is a licensed practitioner in good standing with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta, as well as the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the Naturopathic Association of Therapeutic Injection. His philosophy is to treat every patient as a unique individual in order to design a treatment plan that will be most suited to their needs. He is committed to providing natural health care in conjunction with other health care providers to help you reach your health potential. Dr. Mason-Wood has many interests in the field of naturopathic medicine including anti-aging and aesthetic treatments using facial acupuncture and mesotherapy. He is also trained in pain management and the treatment of sports injuries using prolotherapy, acupuncture and Bowen therapy. In addition to this, he has a special interest in environmental medicine and intravenous therapies such as chelation and immune boosting Myer’s cocktails. Dr. Mason-Wood’s advanced training includes the following: • DAN Doctor training for the treatment of Autism • Intravenous Therapy • Chelation Therapy and Ascorbates • Neural Therapy • Pain Management, Institute of Functional Medicine Dr. Mélanie Robinson B.Sc., ND Dr. Mélanie Robinson graduated from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in Vancouver where she was awarded the Clinical Excellence Award upon graduation. Dr. Robinson completed her undergraduate degree in Bilingual Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta (Campus Saint-Jean). Dr. Robinson is licensed through the CNDA College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta as well as being a member of the CAND Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors. She is also a licensed Bowen Practitioner through the Bowen College in Vancouver. Throughout her education, Dr. Robinson has traveled to numerous countries where she had the opportunity to expand her medical knowledge. She volunteered in a medical brigade for Natural Doctors International (NDI) in Nicaragua where she participated in treating local patients and learned about international health care. Dr. Robinson has a passion for the mind/body connection and empowers her patients on reaching optimal health using gentle and evidence-based treatment. She educates her patients to improve their health using dietary and lifestyle counseling, homeopathy, clinical nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, botanical medicine and acupuncture. Dr. Robinson believes in individualized treatment and will assist one’s journey to overcome obstacles to healing. She is interested in general family practice, focused on women’s health, pediatrics, digestive disorders, fatigue and stress, and inflammatory conditions. Dr. Robinson is fluent in both French and English and is the only French-speaking Naturopathic Doctor in Edmonton. Dr. Alysha Somji B.Sc., ND Dr. Alysha Somji graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine after completion of her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. Dr. Somji is licensed through the CNDA College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta and is also a member of the CAND Association of Naturopathic Doctors. Canadian Dr. Somji had the opportunity to travel to India in 2008 and volunteer with Child Family Health International Foundation, where she spent four weeks immersed in learning about traditional medicine. She also had the opportunity in 2010 to work at the National Hospital of Traditional Medicine in Hanoi, Vietnam. While working at the hospital, she learned about the pathology, examination and treatment practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She believes that each individual is unique and because of this an individualized approach to treatment is employed. Educating patients to take an active role in their health is an essential step to achieving optimal wellness. Dr. Somji utilizes Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, diet and lifestyle counseling, nutritional supplementation, homeopathy and botanical medicine to achieve optimal wellness with her patients. Through encouraging preventative medicine, Dr. Somji believes that patients can attain long term wellness. Dr. Somji’s focus is on family medicine, with a special interest in women’s health, digestive health, stress management, fatigue and acupuncture.